Back to My First Beijing Fishing Spot: A Day of Non-Stop Small Crucian Carp Action
There’s something special about revisiting the place where you first fell in love with a hobby, right? This past Saturday, I headed back to the exact fishing spot where I cast my first line after moving to Beijing, and man, did it deliver. I didn’t hook any monster crucian carp, but I reeled in well over 100 small ones—enough to satisfy every bit of my fishing craving for the next few weeks. Let me break down the chaotic, fun, and slightly frustrating day I had out on the water.
The Spot That Feels Like a Second Home
Before I dive into the nitty-gritty of my catch, let me gush about this spot for a second. It’s not the fanciest fishing location in Beijing, but it’s mine. The environment is peaceful, with trees lining the banks that are starting to turn golden with autumn. It’s also super close to my apartment, which means I don’t have to wake up at 4 a.m. to drive an hour just to get a good spot. But the best part? The community here. I met three of my closest friends at this exact spot, bonding over missed bites, lucky catches, and terrible weather days. When you spend that much time side by side with people, complaining about the same stubborn fish, you form a bond that’s hard to beat. This place isn’t just a fishing spot—it’s where my Beijing fishing story started, and that makes it irreplaceable.
My Fishing Setup: Gear for Swift, Small Bites
Autumn in Beijing means the water is cooling down, and fish behavior shifts fast. I knew small crucian carp would be my main target, so I tailored my gear to match the conditions:
Rod and Line Combos
- 3.9m Soft Rod (28-37 Action): I used this one right up against the reeds. The water flow was crazy fast across most of the river, but the reeds slowed it down just enough to use a standing float. I paired it with 0.8 main line, 0.4 leader line, and size 3 sleeve hooks, using a running lead setup to keep the hooks resting flat on the bottom.
- 4.5m Medium Rod (28 Action): This was my go-to for the reed tops. Same line and hook setup as the 3.9m rod—running lead, double hooks on the bottom. It gave me just enough reach to hit the spots where the small crucian carp love to hide.
Bait: A Messy, Effective Mix
I’m not one of those anglers who sticks to a single, fancy bait—if it works, I’ll mix it up. Here’s what I used to lure in all those small fish:
- Chum Bait: I mixed local mud with leftover yellow noodle and spiral carp bait from my last trip, rolling it into tight balls and casting it close to my spot to draw fish in.
- Fishing Bait: For the actual hook bait, I went all-in on a big mix of store-bought and homemade stuff: Small Field Battle, Crazy Crucian, All-Purpose Sweet, Big Fish King, and Huashi 2+1. I stirred in some homemade rice soaked in wine, then made the bait a bit stiffer so it would hold up to the fast current. It’s not pretty, but it sure gets fish interested.
The Day’s Action: Non-Stop Bites, a Broken Rod, and a Near-Miss with a Big Carp
The day had its ups and downs—let’s walk through it hour by hour.
Early Morning: Slow Bites, Bigger Fish
Before the sun hit the water around 8:30 a.m., the bite was slow. But when I did get a tug, the fish were noticeably bigger. It’s like the small crucian carp were still hiding in the cooler, deeper water, letting the slightly larger ones feed first. I took my time, reeling in about one fish every 10 minutes, and enjoyed the quiet of the autumn morning. No one was yelling, no motors were running—just me, the sound of the river, and the occasional plop of a fish jumping.
Mid-Morning: Chaos and Non-Stop Small Fish
Once the sun crested the trees and hit the water, all hell broke loose. The small crucian carp went into feeding frenzy mode. I was hooking a fish every 30 seconds, sometimes even two at once! My arms started to burn after an hour, but I couldn’t stop—there’s nothing like the rush of feeling that tug on your line, over and over. I lost count of how many I caught in this window, but I know it was well over 50.
Midday: A Fish Lane and a Broken Rod Disaster
Between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., something awesome happened: a clear fish lane formed about 5.4m in front of my spot. I could see small fish darting back and forth through it, and I knew I had to take advantage. I grabbed my 5.4m rod, planning to use the tip to feel for bites since the current was still strong. But here’s the thing about autumn in Beijing—it’s cold. My hands were stiff from the wind, and when I lifted the rod, I put too much pressure on the tip. Crack! The tip snapped clean off. I stood there holding a broken rod, staring at the fish lane, and wanted to scream. Of course, this would happen to me. I had to abandon the plan and go back to my 4.5m rod, muttering to myself about cold hands and bad luck.
Afternoon: Trying to Hook a Big Carp (and Failing Miserably)
At 4 p.m., the angler next to me packed up and left. He’d been using a heavy chum to lure in carp, so I decided to steal his spot and give big carp fishing a try. I switched to my 4.5m rod with a beefier setup: 3 main line, 2 leader line, size 6 Iseama hooks, and yellow noodle + spiral carp bait rolled into big balls. I settled in to wait, thinking this was my chance to hook a monster.
I waited from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. You know what I caught? Three tiny crucian carp, the kind that are so small you barely even feel them bite. I could see big carp swimming in and out of my chum spot—they were there, I could see their shadows! But they wouldn’t touch my bait. I wiggled the line, switched up my bait presentation, even whispered (don’t judge) to them to just take a bite. Nothing. Eventually, I had to admit defeat. Big carp fishing really is all about luck, and that day, luck was not on my side.
Autumn in Beijing: Time to Hang Up the Rod (For a Little While)
As I packed up my gear, I could feel the wind getting sharper, the sun setting faster than it did just a month ago. Beijing’s fishing season is winding down—once the temperature drops more, the fish will slow down even more, sticking to deep water and barely feeding. I’m not going to lie, it’s a bummer. But it’s also a chance to take a break, recharge, and try other things. I might take up hiking, or finally fix that bike I’ve been ignoring for months. And who knows? If I hear about a crazy good fishing day—like a spot where big carp are biting non-stop—I’ll grab my rod and head out. But for now, I’m content to relive my hundred-plus small crucian carp day, laugh about my broken rod, and wait for spring to roll around.
If you’re an angler in Beijing, know this: these last few autumn days are your chance to get in some good bites before the cold hits. Don’t sleep on the small crucian carp—they might not be trophy fish, but they’ll keep you busy all day. And if you try to go after big carp? Good luck. You’re gonna need it.
